I can't even.
. . .
Is the whole business of being an uninsured patient in the US, who suspects she might have cancer, such a stress free stroll in the park that nobody would swap it for the hellish nightmare of the system in Canada (which is, of course, indistinguishable from the completely different UHC systems in other OECD nations - basically there are two healthcare regimes: The American Way and The Wrong Way).
FFS. I seriously can't even.
What is wrong with you?? Who would post this story with that as the headline, other than as a woefully bad attempt at satire?
I find myself agreeing with bilby totally.
From thread title I expected more serious discussion of
Why some Americans are afraid of universal health care?
AFAICT the answer to THAT question includes two major points:
(1) Some white Americans would rather do without health care than to know that black people, immigrants, and other undeserving people are being treated by the
taxpayer's bond-buyer's dime. Sounds ridiculous, but there is much anecdotal evidence for this.
(2) American companies with an interest AGAINST public funding have billions to spend on propaganda. For example, they've created an often-believed myth that VA Health care has major problems. Instead, the reality is that VA patient satisfaction is on a par with that of patients with high-quality private insurance plans.
. . .
And am out of pocket no more than the cost of parking at the hospital (which is admittedly hair-raisingly expensive, but we are talking tens of dollars, not thousands).
On my first visit to London I stepped on a nail at a sauna, and thought it wise to stop at an ER for a tetanus booster. After minimal wait I got my shot. I asked what I owed and ...
they just looked at me funny, what a stupid question!
In Thailand I needed aspirins and stopped to buy them at the local public hospital. I made the mistake of mentioning chest pains and they rushed me to ER for an EKG. As I was paying for my aspirins, a doctor rushed over to add $7 to the bill. He'd overlooked that I was a foreigner so not entitled to a free EKG!
(But if you're in Thailand and need expert care, do NOT go to a public hospital. The most expensive
private hospitals here are the best in the region and charge only a fraction of what U.S. hospitals charge. Pay 100% for excellent care -- it may be less than the CO-pay in U.S. with enough left over for airfare and a wonderful holiday!)
